|
| Lopez Island | Orcas Island | Visitor's Guide |
            
        
|
|
DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
|
Email this page to a friend Previous
|
|
FOR THE LOVE OF BOOKS
Stereotypes rarely hold up to even mediocre scrutiny. Take librarians, for example. The stereotypical librarian exists only in the script of "The Music Man" and the memories of our elders. I've rarely encountered ancient spinsters with tightly pinned buns reprimanding me for making too much noise in my local library; and those I have met were patrons rather than employees. Librarians today hold advanced degrees in library science, acquire continuing education credits, navigate the information highway, and still smile when asked ridiculous reference questions. They supervise children with nowhere else to go after school. They teach computer skills and troubleshoot malfunctioning equipment. They understand complex points of law regarding privacy and freedom of speech. And, if that were not enough, they are skilled at public relations and consumer psychology. These last two talents became clear to me when our local library closed for remodeling. Knowing that avid readers would panic at the thought of being without books for a month or more, the librarians allowed patrons to borrow books for six weeks with no limit on quantity. So there we all were in the library in those last few days, checking out dozens of books while smiling at one another and pointing out tomes we thought our friends might have missed. Now that the library is closed, I have to laugh at myself. In order to read all the books I checked out, I need to read at least three a week. That doesn't happen even on vacation with paperback novels. Yet the clever librarians saved me from panic while reducing the number of books they had to pack and store for the remodel. I know they must have been giggling knowingly to themselves as each of us hauled our booty out of the library. Isn't it amazing what ridiculous things the fear of scarcity will make us do?
© 2005 David Bentley David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world. You may contact him at 360.378.8436 by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com |
|
|
SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2010 About Us | Advertising Info | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
|
|
